Laying machine and a blade assembly

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure presents a laying machine for laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable, or wire. The laying machine includes a blade arrangement for making a trench in the ground. The laying machine can also include a consolidation and laying means being arranged behind the blade arrangement for clearing and safeguarding the trench from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench. Additionally, a blade assembly including compartments for cooling fluid and air is presented herein.

BACKGROUND

Several kinds of machine for laying cable, pipes, or the like have beenproposed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,868, U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,451, U.S. Pat.No. 6,189,244, U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,347, EP 1,058,757, U.S. Pat. No.6,371,691 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,978 are examples of such machines.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,978 shows a working machine for laying cable, pipes,or the like. The machine includes an excavation means, a laying meansfor laying a wire in the excavation and a consolidation means in anintermediate position between the excavation means and the laying means.The width of the excavation being between 5 and 7 cm and the depthbetween 25 and 50 cm.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a laying machine that can makea trench and lay at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire inthe trench in a cost efficient manner.

Another object is to make as little impact on the environment aspossible.

Another object of invention is tom provide a blade assembly suitable forsuch machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one of the objects above is at least partially enabled by alaying machine for laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable orwire including a blade arrangement for making a trench in the ground, aconsolidation and laying means being arranged behind the blade, forclearing and safeguarding the trench from collapsing while laying atleast one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench. Havinga blade arrangement to cut a trench provides a narrow trench whichrequires less energy to make than a wider one. Furthermore, the narrowtrench make less damage on e.g. a road and therefore provides lessenvironmental impact than a wider one, Furthermore it can much easier becovered and made almost invisible as if no trenching had been performed.Furthermore using a blade arrangement in a cutting operation makes theside walls of the trench less likely to collapse, since larger stones orroots are cut through. Furthermore the material from the trench whenusing a blade arrangement becomes a fine dust which can be easilycollected by a dust collector.

A blade arrangement in the form of a blade assembly for working on awork surface/area/structure is also suggested. The blade assemblyincluding at least two blades, a first blade, a second blade, andpossible a third blade, that are axially aligned, each blade having aworking portion at the periphery of the blade and a central portionaround the axial center of the blade for being operated on by a devicefor driving the blade assembly, a blade support structure extendingbetween the working portion and the central portion characterized inthat the blades are spaced apart by a spacer structure/s, said spacerstructure/s forming at least one compartment, between the blades, thatis in contact with the central portion and extending towards the workingportion, and at least at one radius of the spacer structure/s covering asignificant part of the periphery at that radius of the spacerstructure/s, said compartment/s having an inlet at the central portion.

Preferably the blade assembly includes three blades which are spacedapart by two spacer structures, said spacer structures each forming atleast one compartment between the blades in contact with the centralportion and extending towards the working portion and at least at oneradius of the spacer structures covering a significant part of theperiphery at that radius of the spacer structures, said compartment/shaving an inlet at the central portion.

Preferably the significant part is at least 30%, preferably at least50%, more preferably at least 70% of the periphery.

Furthermore blade assembly for working on a work surface/area/structureis also suggested, including at least two blades, a first blade, asecond blade, and possible a third blade, that are axially aligned, eachblade having a working portion at the periphery of the blade and acentral portion around the axial center of the blade for being operatedon by a device for driving the blade assembly, a blade support structureextending between the working portion and the central portioncharacterized in that the blades are spaced apart by a spacerstructure/s, including a central hub that provides support at thecentral portion, and a plurality of fan blade shaped supports thatprovides support at the blade support structure and functions as fanblades, said blade assembly having at least one air vent of at least oneor possible both outermost blades, said air vent being within the firstfractional third of the blade radius. Preferably the blade assemblyfurther having at least one fluid inlet is provided at the centralportion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the laying machine,

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the laying machine,

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a laying machine being able tooperate at different ground levels,

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a laying machine being able tooperate at different ground levels,

FIG. 5 shows scissor mechanisms used in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4when both are fully retracted,

FIG. 6 shows the scissor mechanisms used in the embodiments of FIGS. 3and 4 when the right one is retracted and the left one extended, andwhen a front wheel is replaced by a longitudinal boogie,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a wheeled dust collector being pushed bythe laying machine,

FIG. 8 is a reel carriage which for supplying flexible casings or tubes,cables or wires to the laying machine,

FIG. 9 shows laying machine in operation pulling a reel trailer thatsupplies flexible casings or tubes, cables or wires to the machine,

FIG. 10 shows schematically an embodiment of a dust collector,

FIG. 11 shows a partial exploded view of a blade assembly having threeblades as seen from the side opposite to where the drive shaft isconnected,

FIG. 12 shows a partial exploded view of a blade assembly having threeblades as seen from the side where the drive shaft is connected,

FIG. 13 shows a cross section of the central member clamping the bladeassembly, providing a connection for the drive shaft and providing meansfor supplying fluid to compartments in the blade assembly,

FIG. 14 shows a zoomed in part of a cross section of the blade assemblyat the periphery thereof,

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of a blade assembly according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 16A shows a side view of a blade of the blade assembly of FIG. 15,

FIG. 16B shows a side view of blade of the blade assembly of FIG. 15having radial extending slots,

FIG. 17 shows a blade with a spacer structure according to a thirdembodiment,

FIG. 18 shows a blade with a spacer structure according to a forthembodiment,

FIG. 19 shows a blade assembly having two ring blades and one fullblade,

FIG. 20 shows a blade assembly having three ring blades,

FIG. 21 shows a side view of a blade of the blade assembly of FIG. 20,

FIG. 22 shows a carrier saw blade having additional rows of cuttingssegments,

FIG. 23 shows how additional cuttings segments can be fastened to acarrier saw blade,

FIG. 24 shows a hinged consolidation and laying means according to afirst embodiment,

FIG. 25 shows a hinged consolidation and laying means according to asecond embodiment,

FIG. 26A shows a schematic side view of a feeder device according to afirst embodiment,

FIG. 26B shows a schematic front or rear view of the feeder device ofFIG. 26A,

FIG. 26C shows a schematic front or rear view of a feeder deviceaccording to a second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1-2 shows a laying machine 1 according to one embodiment and FIG.3-4 show the laying machine 1 according to another embodiment. Thelaying machine 1 includes a blade arrangement 2 for making a trench 5 inthe ground and a consolidation and laying means 3 for clearing andsafeguarding the trench 5 from collapsing while laying at least oneflexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench 5. The at leastone flexible casing or tube, cable or wire can be rolled off from areel/s mounted on the machine 1 or as shown in FIG. 8 from reelsarranged on a reel trailer 40. A disc guard 18 covers the portion of theblade arrangement 2 that is above ground level.

The machine 1 shown in FIG. 1-2 has two front wheels 7 and a rear wheel8, while the machine shown in FIG. 3-4 has two front wheels 27 a, 27 band two rear wheels 28 a, 28 b which are suspended by two scissormechanisms 30 a; 30 b as is described in relation to FIG. 3-6. A motor6, preferably a diesel engine, provides power to propel the machine 1.The motor is also responsible for rotating the blade arrangement 2,preferably through a belt transmission (not shown).

The blade arrangement 2, the disc guard 18, and the consolidation andlaying means 3 are mounted at a first side of the machine 1, here shownas the right hand side of the machine 1. This enables the operator toplace the trench 5 close to side structures such as walls. The bladearrangement 2 and the consolidation and laying means 3 can be moved fromthe first side of the machine to the opposite second side (i.e. the lefthand side). When changing sides, the disc guard 18 is replaced by acorresponding disc guard having a mirrored configuration.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1-2 a seat 9 and feet support 10 are providedin the rear of the machine 1 straight behind the blade arrangement 2 sothat a seated driver can drive the machine 1 while closely monitoringand controlling the trench making, consolidation and laying operation.In the shown embodiment the seat 9 and the feet support 10 protrudessomewhat more to the right than the blade arrangement 2 with the discguard 18 and the consolidation and laying means 3, which will somewhatlimit how close the machine 1 can make a trench 5 along a wall. However,it would of course be possible to have a driver seat 9 which does notprotrude further than the blade arrangement 2 with the disc guard 18 andthe consolidation and laying means 3. Such an embodiment may howeverreduce a seated operator's ability to visually monitor the trench makingoperation. The clearance Δh between the ground and the feet support 10is suitable around 20-30 cm. This enables the machine 1 to go very closeto lower side structures such as a pavement along a road. The layingmachine 1 may also be arranged to be arranged to be controlled wirelessso that the operator can choose between seated operation and remotecontrolled operation.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine 1 is not equipped withand driver seat. In this embodiment the operator can operate the machine1 by walking directly behind it accessing the control panel 38 and/or byusing a remote control (not shown) for wireless control of the machine1. In this embodiment the blade arrangement 2 with the disc guard 18 andthe consolidation and laying means 3 are arranged as the outermost unitsof the first side of the machine 1, enabling the machine 1 to go veryclose also to higher side structures such as walls.

The machine preferably uses a hydraulic propulsion system powered by adiesel engine, however other kinds of propulsion system and motors 6 canbe employed. The blade arrangement 2 is preferably driven by the samemotor 6 that propels the machine 1 (the motor can e.g. be the same asused in the road saw model Husqvarna RS 8500 D or the floor saw model FS9900 D). However, it would of course be possible to use separate motorsfor the blade arrangement 2 and the propulsion of the machine 1, as wellas other motors types than those exemplified with. Preferably the motor6 drives a hydraulic pump that supplies hydraulic fluid to hydraulicmotors 71 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) at each wheel 27, 28 based on operatorinputs. The shown rear wheels also have hydraulic motors 72 for turning.

The motor 6 drives a shaft 17 that connects to the centre of the bladearrangement 2. The shaft 17 with the blade arrangement 2 can be movedupwards and downwards to adjust the cutting depth of the trench 5. Theraising and lowering of the shaft with the blade arrangement 2 ispreferably powered by the hydraulic system (not shown) that is poweredby the motor 6. In its most upward position the blade arrangement 2 isabove ground level, i.e. it is in a transport position, and in its mostdownward position the shaft 17 holding the blade arrangement 2 is movedto a position close to the ground, e.g. only a few centimeters fromground level. The maximum trench depth can therefore be made almost asdeep as the radius of the blade arrangement 2. Depending on how themachine 1 is configured, different blade diameters can be used;preferably the blade diameters are between 500-1200 mm. In oneembodiment the blade arrangement 2 can be lowered or raised to anyposition between these extremes, i.e. the trench depth can thereby bevaried. In another embodiment the machine 1 has one or several fixedoperating depths.

The working portion, i.e. the active portion at the periphery of theblade arrangement 2, is between 5-50 mm thick, preferably 5-30 mm, morepreferably 10-25 mm, most preferably 15-25 mm. Thereby a thin trench canbe cut, which requires less work to make than a thicker one. The bladearrangement 2 is preferably of a kind used for floor saws and road sawsincluding one saw blade or an assembly of two or more saw blades,preferably two or three saw blades (see e.g. the embodiment described inrelation to FIG. 11-14). The saw blade/s comprise steel plate/s thatpreferably has diamond-impregnated segments at the periphery (workingportion) of the blade. Steel plates having diamond-impregnated segmentsat the periphery are for instance sold by Husqvarna AB.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 the disc guard 18 includes a hinged lid 18 athat can be opened to access the blade arrangement 2. When closed thedisc guard 18 has a width slightly larger than the width of the bladearrangement 2. In the preferred embodiments the blade arrangement 2 isarranged to rotate in an upcut direction, i.e. a rotational directionwhere the lowest portion of the blade arrangement 2 moves in the forwarddriving direction of the machine 1. Therefore, dust and any debris fromthe trench making, consolidation and laying operation will mainly exitthe trench in front of the blade arrangement 2. To collect this dust anddebris dust duct 19 is provided in the front section of the disc guard2. The dust duct has an dust inlet 22 arranged close to the ground infront of the blade arrangement 2 for receiving dust from the upcutrotation of the blade arrangement 2, and a disc guard dust outlet 21located above the disc guard dust inlet 22. An upper wall of the discguard dust duct 19 is partly defined by a flexible sealing member 20sealing towards the blade arrangement 2 and preventing dust fromentering the upper volume of the disc guard 18. The sealing member 20could e.g. be two rubber strips or two brushes.

A dust collector 50; 500 (see FIGS. 7, 9, 10) can be connected to thedisc guard dust outlet 21, to receive dust and debris from the trenchmaking operation. The dust collector 50; 500 may include suction means(not shown) or other active means for conveying dust to a receivingcompartment of the dust collector, for instance a screw conveyor 501(see FIG. 10), or it may rely only on the rotational force from therotating blade arrangement 2 (See FIG. 7). The dust collector 50; 500can include any kind of container or a bulk bag (e.g. a FlexibleIntermediate Bulk Container), that can be arranged on the machine 1 oron a separate wheeled unit.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the dust collector is a first wheeledunit 50 in front of the machine 1 that is pushed forward by the machine1 as it propels. The first wheeled unit 50 of FIG. 7 has an innercompartment 51 which is preferably covered by a lid (not shown) duringthe trench making operation. The inner compartment 51 is connected tothe dust outlet 21 via an opening to the inner compartment 51 at therear side thereof. The dust duct 19 and the inner compartment 51 of thefirst wheeled unit 50 forms a substantially closed air system whichoptionally has an air filter for letting out air while keeping the dustin the compartment 51. If having an air filter it is preferably arrangedon the lid (not shown). The first wheeled unit 50 is easily disconnectedfrom the laying machine 1 so that moved away and emptied when filled.

In FIG. 9, 10 the dust collector 50; 500 is a second wheeled unit 500that supports a bulk bag 501. Here the wheeled unit 500 is shownarranged at the left side of the machine, i.e. the side opposite towhere the blade arrangement 2 is mounted. A screw conveyor 502 has ascrew conveyor inlet 503, in a lower distal end thereof, which receivesdust from an dust outlet in front of the disc guard 18, and conveys thedust to the screw conveyor outlet 504 at the opposite distal end of thescrew conveyor 502 that supplies the bulk bag 501 with the conveyeddust. When a bulk bag is full, the second wheeled unit 500 can bereplaced by another second wheeled unit 500′, and/or the bag can beremoved from the second wheeled unit 500 and optionally emptied at asuitable location. Even though the embodiment in FIG. 9, 10 shows ascrew conveyor 502 for conveying the dust to the bulk bag 501, otherkinds of conveying means can be employed, for instance a belt conveyor.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 the consolidation and laying means 3is manually put into the trench and secured at the operating depth. Inthis embodiment, when making a trench 5, the laying machine 1 firstmakes an initial trench with the blade arrangement 2. In this initialstep the consolidation and laying means 3 is detached from the machine1. When the initial trench 5 has been made the blade arrangement 2 israised, and the consolidation and laying means 3 is inserted into thetrench 5, preferably already supporting the at least one flexible casingor tube, wire or cable. Alternatively the at least one flexible casingor tube, wire or cable can be provided to the consolidation and layingmeans 3 while in the trench 5. Thereafter the consolidation and layingmeans 3 is secured to the laying machine 1 and the blade arrangement 2is lowered to the operating depth.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 it can be seen that the consolidationand laying means 3 is being held by two pivotable arms 61, 62. Each arm61, 62 include a turnbuckle so that their respective length can beadjusted by turning the turnbuckles. Thereby the position of theconsolidation and laying means 3 behind the blade arrangement 2 can beadjusted. Furthermore, the pivotable arms 61, 62 are so arranged that,when lifting the consolidation and laying means 3 up from the trench 5while the disc blade arrangement 2 still is present therein, it followsa trajectory that prevents the consolidation and laying means 3 fromintersecting with the blade arrangement 2 when being raised or loweredinto the trench 5. An actuator 63 can be actuated to raise and lower theconsolidation and laying means 3. The actuator 63 can e.g. be ahydraulic actuator connected to the hydraulic system of the machine 1 oran electric actuator. The operator can control the raising lowering ofthe consolidation and laying means 3 via the control panel 38 on themachine or via remote control (not shown).

When reaching the operating depth the concave front end 11 of theconsolidation and laying means 3 is arranged to be located behind theblade arrangement 2, at a position so that the concave front end facesand follows the periphery of the blade arrangement 2 and so that theclearance between the front end 11 and the blade arrangement 2 is lessthan 50 mm within the trench 5. Preferably the clearance is less than 40mm, more preferably less than 20 and most preferably less than 10 mm. Infact the clearance could even be zero the first time it is used lettingthe blade arrangement 2 work up a clearance. Of course as the bladearrangement 2 is worn the clearance may increase. The consolidation andlaying means 3 could therefore be equipped with clearance adjustingmeans for adjusting it forwardly and backwardly to adjust the clearancebetween the front end 11 and the periphery of the blade arrangement 2.

Furthermore, when arranged behind blade arrangement 2, i.e. during thetrench making, consolidation and laying operation, the lowest portion ofthe consolidation and laying means 3, i.e. its bottom 13, is arranged tobe located above the lowest portion of the blade arrangement 2,preferably between 10-100 mm above, more preferably 10-60 mm, mostpreferably 20-50 mm. Preferably the bottom 13 is not leveled butcontinuously or sequentially increasing the clearance to the bottom oftrench 5 when moving from the front of the consolidation and layingmeans 60 to the rear of it.

The side walls 12 of the consolidation and laying means 3 prevents thetrench walls from partly or completely collapsing before the at leastone flexible casing or tube, cable or wire is fed into the trench 5. Theconsolidation and laying means 3 further has one or more feeding ducts14 that each has a inlet at an upper portion 15 of the consolidation andlaying means 3 for receiving the flexible casing, cable or wire and aoutlet at a rear end 16 of the consolidation and laying means 3 forfeeding the cable or wire to the trench 5. Each feeding duct 14 can bearranged to guide one or more flexible casings or tubes, wires, orcables, preferably one flexible casing or tube. Thus the at least onefeeding duct 14 can be one, e.g. feeding a larger flexible casing withroom for multiple cables, or several tubes, wires or cables on top ofeach other. Preferably the feeding duct 14 is at least two, preferablyat least four. The consolidation and laying means 3 is preferably madeopen or openable at the upper portion of and towards the rear end of theconsolidation and laying means 3, so that the at least one flexiblecasing or tube, wire, or cable can be fed by pushing it down into theconsolidation and laying means 3, i.e. this could be done while it isalready in the trench 5. Another alternative is to push the at least oneflexible casing or tube, wire, or cable through the inlet of the feedingduct 14 to the outlet of the feeding duct 14. A further option would beto have one of the side walls 12 of the consolidation and laying means 3detachable, i.e. detaching it and putting the at least one flexiblecasing or tube, wire, or cable into the desired feeding duct 14.

In one embodiment the consolidation and laying means 3 have the samethickness or is no more than 1 mm thinner than the blade arrangement 2.The advantage with this embodiment is that both the blade arrangement 2and the consolidation and laying means 3 can be made as thin aspossible, i.e. as thin as the size of the flexible casing or tube, cableor wire allows.

Alternatively, the consolidation and laying means 3 is made thinner thanthe blade arrangement 2, preferably at least 1 mm thinner, morepreferably at least 2 mm thinner, most preferably at least 5 mm thinner,even more preferred 10 mm thinner. One advantage of having theconsolidation and laying means 3 thinner than the blade arrangement 2,is that if the trench 5 is not to be cut in a straight line but ratherallowing for a curvature, the lesser thickness of the consolidation andlaying means 3 reduces the risk for it to get stuck in the trench 5,i.e. the more thinner the consolidation and laying means 3 is inrelation to the blade arrangement 2, the steeper curves can be done whenmaking the trench 5.

The wire laying machine 1 could further include, a temperature sensor(not shown) for sensing the temperature of the blade arrangement 2, acoolant and/or consolidation liquid supply means (not shown) forsupplying liquid to the blade arrangement 2, and means for regulatingthe amount of supplied liquid (not shown) to the blade arrangement 2based on inputs from the temperature sensor. The coolant and/orconsolidation liquid for either cooling the blade arrangement 2, orconsolidating the trench 5 by wetting it thereby reducing risk of partlyor entirely collapsing trench walls, or a combination of cooling theblade arrangement 2 and consolidating the trench 5.

Regarding the rotational direction of the disc, even though it ispreferred to have upcut direction, the opposite would also be feasible.Of course then the dust inlet and outlet are suitably arranged at therear end of the blade arrangement 2.

When laying fiber optic cables it is common to put out hollow tubes orflexible casings where the fiber optic cables are blown out using airpressure through already installed tubes and/or casings, i.e. after thatthe tubes and/or flexible casings have been put down in trenches andbeen covered.

The laying machine 1 may also include as GPS receiver which savespositional data which can be used in combination with digital maps todocument the excavated trenches. Furthermore the laying machine may alsoinclude means for monitoring the cutting depth and to save thisinformation in combination with the positional data. Also informationabout how many and which kind of flexible casings, tubes, cables orwires that have been laid down in the trenches. Thereby a fulldocumentation can be provided about where the trenches have beenexcavated, how deep they are, and what kind and how many cables, wiresetc that has been laid down in the trenches.

In FIG. 3-6 an embodiment is shown where the laying machine 1 has a left27 a, 28 a and a right 27 b, 28 b wheel pair mounted to a scissormechanism 30 a; 30 b of left and the right side of the machine 1.Respectively scissor mechanism 30 a; 30 b having a front scissor arm 31a; 31 b for the front wheel 27 a; 27 b and a rear scissor arm 32 a; 32 bfor the rear wheel 28 a; 28 b. The scissor mechanism is best seen inFIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 3, the laying machine 1 is shown with the leftwheel pair 27 a, 28 a on a first ground level I, e.g. street level, andthe second wheel pair 27 b, 28 b on a second elevated ground level II,e.g. a pavement. An actuator 33 a; 33 b actuates the front scissor arm31 a; 31 b when extends or retracts the scissor mechanism 30 a; 30 b,and thereby raising or lowering the corresponding side of the machine 1,so that it can operate with the wheel pairs 27 a, 28 a; 27 b, 28 b ondifferent ground levels while keeping the blade arrangement 2 vertical.

As exemplified in FIG. 6 one wheel 27 a may be replaced by a bogie arm35 a, 35 b running in an essentially longitudinal direction of thelaying machine 1 to form a longitudinal bogie 34 carrying two wheels 36,37, one at respectively longitudinal end. In this example the two arms35 a, 35 b are fixedly joined by a shaft and the bogie turns around thisshaft. It is also possible to replace two wheels 27 a, 28 a; 27 b, 28 bat one lateral side of the laying machine 1 with a longitudinal bogie34. When replacing two wheels 27 a, 28 a; 27 b, 28 b at one lateral sideof the laying machine 1, the corresponding scissor mechanism 30 a; 30 bis suitably replaced or changed to a height adjusting mechanismaffecting the central part of the longitudinal bogie 34. Furthermore ifreplacing two wheels 27 a, 28 a; 27 b, 28 b at one lateral side of thelaying machine with a single height adjustable longitudinal bogie 34, itis preferred that it is the lateral side opposite to the one carryingthe blade arrangement 2, i.e. in the shown embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4the wheels 27 a, 28 a can be replaced by such longitudinal bogie 34. Thetwo wheels 27 a, 28 a of the opposite lateral side may also each bereplaced by a corresponding longitudinal bogie 34.

To distribute the pressure from the blade arrangement 2 the wheel 27 bclose to the blade arrangement 2 can be replaced by a longitudinal bogie34. This can be combined with a single height adjustable longitudinalbogie 34 at the opposite lateral side replacing the two wheels 27 a, 28a of the opposite side. This is the preferred embodiment when employingboogies 24.

Alternatively the wheel 27 b close to the blade arrangement 2 can bereplaced by a longitudinal bogie 34, and a single longitudinal boogie 34replaces the rear wheel 28 a at the opposite lateral side, or twolongitudinal boogies 34 are respectively replacing the two wheels 27 a,28 a of the opposite side.

Preferably in all embodiments at least one of the wheels 27 a, 28 a, 27b, 28 b is not replaced by a longitudinal bogie 34. The at least oneremaining wheel can preferably be used when turning the machine as wellas driving the machine. Preferably at least one of the wheels 27 a, 28a, 27 b, 28 b that is not replaced by a longitudinal boogie is the rearwheel 28 b of the side carrying the blade arrangement 2. Replacingwheels 27 a and 28 a with one longitudinal bogie 34 and wheel 27 b withone longitudinal bogie 34 creates an especially efficient solution wherethe machine is always supported in three positions. Preferably only thebogie wheels close to the saw blade are driven. Alternatively also therear wheel 28 b is driven. Its main function is however for steering.

The actuators 33 a; 33 b are preferably hydraulically powdered cylindersthat each are connected to a corresponding hydraulic scissor controlvalve (not shown). Of course, the actuators 33 a; 33 b can alternativelybe electrical actuators. The laying machine 1 has a first level sensor(not shown) which measures the angle to horizontal in a sidewaysdirection. The first level sensor is connected to an electronic controlunit (not shown) that can be set to control the hydraulic scissorcontrol valves (not shown) and thereby the scissor mechanisms 30 a; 30b. Thereby the machine 1 can be automatically controlled to stay leveledin horizontal position, so that the blade arrangement 2 is keptvertical. The first level sensor may also provide leveling informationto the operator.

In one embodiment the first level sensor can be calibrated. In thissituation the operator uses a reference level sensor and inputs theresults either manually using the control panel 38 or a remote controldevice or by connecting the reference sensor to the electronic controlunit (i.e. via cable or wireless, for instance via an usb cable to thecontrol panel). The reference sensor may be connected to a computerrunning a calibrating software. A calibrating software may also beincluded in the electronic control unit.

In one embodiment the operator can choose to set one of the scissormechanisms 30 a; 30 b in a fixed position. Thus in this situation theelectronic control unit is adjusting the horizontal leveling byextending or retracting the opposite scissor mechanism 30 b; 30 a.Usually the scissor mechanism 30 a; 30 b on the side where the bladearrangement 2 is located is set in a fixed position. Thereby the cuttingdepth can be kept constant.

In addition the operator can choose to switch off the automatic levelingcontrol and instead manually control one or both hydraulic scissorcontrol valves. Of course, the machine could be arranged without anautomatic leveling system relying only on manual control of thehydraulic scissor control valves.

By having the scissor mechanisms 30 a; 30 b, the flexibility of thelaying machine 1 increases. The machine 1 can operate with one wheelpair 27 a, 28 a at one ground level I and the opposite wheel pair 27 b,28 b on a different ground level II, for instance by having one of thewheel pairs on a pavement. Also the ground clearance of the machine canbe adjusted, e.g. by extending/retracting both scissor mechanisms 30 a;30 b. This can be advantageous if the ground is somewhat uneven, e.g.with stones sticking up. Furthermore if one wheel 27 a, 27 b, 28 a, 28 bencounters a bump or a small hole, both the consolidation and layingmeans 3 and the blade arrangement 2 can be kept from tilting left orright, by extending or retracting the scissor mechanisms 30 a; 30 b,i.e. minimizing the risk of them getting jammed in the trench.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3-6, the front wheels 27 a, 27 b and therear wheels 28 a, 28 b are hydraulically driven. The rear wheels 28 a,28 b can be jointly turned, up to 90 degrees by use of hydraulics, or betuned individually, whereas the front wheels 27 a, 27 b in thisembodiment are fixed from turning. Each rear wheel 28 a, 28 b have anangle sensor for determining the angular position of respectably rearwheel. The angular sensors can be individually calibrated by theoperator. This calibrating feature can also allow manufacturing to haveslightly less accuracy when mounting the sensors, since they can becalibrated after manufacture.

As mentioned above the machine can be operated from a control panel 38on the machine 1 or by a remote control device. Each scissor mechanismcan be individually extended or retracted. The machine 1 can be set forautomatic leveling or manual leveling, with or without fixing one of thescissor mechanisms 30 a; 30 b in one position and adjusting the other.The rear wheels 28 a, 28 b can be turned individually or jointly. Allthese features provides for great flexibility.

The steering control of the machine 1 can at least be set in a transportmode or in a cutting mode. If the blade arrangement 2 is in an operatingposition in the trench 5, the steering control acts differently comparedto when in the transport mode. For instance the angular position of therear wheels are limited, e.g. +−10 degrees compared to +−90 degrees intransport mode. In transport mode the angular position of the wheels areproportional to the joystick or steering wheel position, i.e. the wheelswill revert to 0 degrees if the joystick is released, whereas in cuttingmode moving a joystick position gives inputs to slowly turn the wheel inone rotational direction, turning speed determined by how much thejoystick position is offset (optionally the turning speed of the wheelis constant regardless of how much the joystick is offset). If thejoystick is released the wheels stay in their latest position. In thecutting position the forward speed is also limited, for instance a fulljoystick offset could provide a speed that is only a third of the speedin transport mode. When raising the blade arrangement 2 from the trench5, the steering control is kept in the cutting mode until it isdeactivated. One advantage with this is that the blade arrangement 2 canbe switched while keeping the wheels in the same position. This is verybeneficial since normally the wheels are slightly turned in operatingconditions, even if the machine 1 is intended to go straight forward.This is done to compensate for the forces that arises due to that theblade is positioned at one side of the machine 1.

Another feature of the steering control is that, when starting the motorthe joystick must be in neutral position to be able to be activated, sothe machine will not move when the joystick is activated.

There is a sensor measuring the strain on the flexible casing, wires,cables, etc. and that stops forward propulsion regardless of joystickinput, if a predetermined threshold is succeeded. The machine 1 canprovide information to the operator before this threshold has beenreach, for instance be signaling with a green color if there is no orlittle tension, orange if the tension is closer to critical, and red ifthe machine is about to stop forward propulsion.

In one embodiment there is provided a fluid pressure sensor that stopsthe rotation of the blade arrangement 2 if the fluid pressure is lost.

In an alternative embodiment each wheel 27 a, 28 a, 27 b, 28 b has anindividual raising/lowering mechanism, automatically controlled by anelectronic control unit (not shown) and/or by the operator. Thereby thelaying machine 1 can easily adapt to height changes in the ground level.By having the ground clearance between the main body of the machine 1and wheels 27 a, 28 a, 27 b, 28 b individually controlled the bladearrangement 2 and the consolidation and laying means 3 cannot only bekept from tilting to the left or right when driving on different levels,such as pavement vs. street, or when encountering bump or holes, butthey can also be kept from tilting forward or backward if e.g. one ofthe front wheel drives over a bump.

FIG. 8 shows a reel trailer 40 which is suitably pulled by the layingmachine 1. The reel trailer 40 supplies flexible casings, tubes, cablesor wires to the laying machine 1 and is equipped with a plurality ofreels 41, 42, 43 each being initially fully winded with a flexiblecasing, tube, cable or wire. The trailer also has acoolant/consolidation liquid tank 45 for supplying liquid to the layingmachine 1 for cooling the blade arrangement 2 and/or consolidating thetrench 5. From the cable reels 41-43, cables are guided via the guidingmembers 46 towards the laying machine in front of the trailer 40. Theshown embodiment being able to hold 20 reels; i.e. enabling the layingmachine 1 to lay up to 20 flexible casings, tubes, cables or wires inthe trench. The outer reels 41 are easily accessed and can hence easilybe replaced when empty. To change the upper inner reels 43, a centralbar 44 at each side of the trailer 40 which holds a pair of upper innerreels 43 can be displaced forward respectively rearward to provideenough space for removal of an upper inner reel 43. The lower innerreels 42, hanging in front of the coolant/consolidation liquid tank 45,are each arranged on a pivotable arm 47 (in the shown embodiment thereis in total four pivotable arms 47). By pivoting the arm 47 outwardly alower inner reel 42 can be replaced.

In FIG. 9 a laying machine 1 is pulling a second reel trailer 400,according to another embodiment. A dust collector 500 is also connectedto the laying machine 1 collecting dust from the laying machine 1. Thereel trailer includes a plurality of reels 401 having their axistransversal to the driving direction, which makes it easy to roll offlexible casings, tubes, cables or wires 405. The flexible casings,tubes, cables or wires 405 are guided by an overhead guiding system 402,403 including two horizontal tubes, a left hand tube 402 and a righthand tube 403, above the reels 401 and extending in the drivingdirection. Each tube has several inlets 402 a, 403 a to the tube and thetube guides the wires towards the laying machine 1. The laying machine 1is connected to the reel trailer 400 by a rod, with one flexible jointat each end. The reel trailer 400 also includes a fluid tank 404, thatsupplies fluid through a hose that is guided in the left hand tube 402.Also seen in the figure is a full dust collector that has beendisconnected from the laying machine in favor of a new and empty dustcollector 500.

FIG. 11-14 shows a blade arrangement in the form of a blade assembly200, according to one embodiment, that is suitable for cutting a trenchwith the laying machine 1. The blade assembly 200 includes an innerfirst blade 201 and intermediate second blade 202 and an outer thirdblade 203.

Each blade 201; 202; 203 having a working portion 201 a; 202 a; 203 a atthe periphery of the blade and a central portion 201 c; 202 c; 203 caround the centre of the blade, and a blade support structure 201 b; 202b; 203 b extending between the working portion 201 a; 202 a; 203 a andthe central portion 201 c; 202 c; 203 c.

The blades are preferably steel plates having diamond-impregnatedsegments at the periphery. The total thickness of the blade assembly 200at is periphery is preferably 15-30 mm, more preferably 15-25 mm. Thediameters of the first and third blades are preferably in the range500-1200 mm. The second blade 202 can be of equal diameter or up to 100mm shorter. The thickness of the blades is preferably in the range of2-10 mm, more preferably 3-5 mm. The thickness of the segments ispreferably in the range of 3-12 mm, more preferably 3.5-6 mm. Thethickness of the segments of the intermediate second blade 202 may bethinner than those of the outer blades, e.g. 0.2-1 mm thinner.

A first spacer structure 204 is arranged between the first blade 201 andthe second blade 202, and a corresponding second spacer structure 205 isarranged between the second blade 202 and the third blade 203. Thespacer structures 204, 205 are of flat circular shape with a pluralityof radially extending triangular shaped holes that are evenlydistributed around the centre of the spacer structure 204, 205. Theholes in the spacer structures 204, 205 provide a plurality ofcompartments 206, 207 together with the two neighboring blades 201, 202;202, 203, a plurality of first compartments 206 between the first andsecond blade and a plurality of second compartments 207 between thesecond and third blade. The segments of the spacer structures 204, 205that enclose the holes provide the side walls 206 a, 206 b; 207 a, 207 bof the compartments and the two neighboring blades 201, 202; 202, 203provides the axial walls.

Each compartment 206, 207 has two radial extending side walls 206 a, 207a that both extends radially from a predetermined distance from theaxial center of the blades, preferably within 150 mm from the center.The two radial extending sidewalls 206 a; 207 a of compartment 206, 207are preferably of equal length. The compartments 206, 207 have a thirdside wall extending between the two side walls defining the outer edgeof the compartments 206, 207. The third side wall is located at adistance closer to the periphery of the blades 201, 202, 203 than to thecenter of the blades, preferably within 200 mm from the periphery. Thethird side wall is preferably straight or concave.

The number of compartments between two neighboring blades should be atleast one, preferably the number is in the range of 3-20, morepreferably 7-15. In the shown embodiment the number is 12. For coolingpurposes, the area that the spacer structure covers on the blade ispreferably as large as possible. However, the spacer structure alsofunctions as supporting and stabilizing structure. Therefore the areathat the spacer structure covers is preferably 15-80% of the area of theouter blades, preferably 20-70%, more preferably 25-50%.

The spacer structure is preferably a disc made of steel. However othermaterials could be used. For example the spacer structure may be made ofaluminum or other metals or alloys thereof. It may also be made in apolymer material. The thickness of the spacer structure, for a bladehaving a diameter in the range of 500-1200 mm, is preferably in therange of 2-10 mm, more preferably 3-6 mm.

A plurality of first bores or first inlets 208, one for each firstcompartment 206, perforates the first blade 201 to reach each of thefirst compartments 206 at or close to the intersection of its two radialextending sidewalls 206 b, i.e. at a position close to the centre of theblades. The second blade 202 have a plurality of second bores or secondinlets 209, one for each second compartment 207, that each arepositioned to extend from the first compartments 206 at or close to theintersection of its two radial extending sidewalls 206 b, i.e. oppositeto the first bores 208, to reach a corresponding second compartment 207,i.e. at or close to the intersection of its two radial extendingsidewalls 207 b.

The blade assembly is clamped together at the central portion of theblades between an inner member 210 and an outer member 211, a pluralityof securing bolts 212 extending through bores in the blades and spacerstructure. The blade assembly is also secured by a plurality of bolts213 at the periphery of the blades and the spacer structures, and atintermediate position between the periphery and the centre. The bolts213 extend through the three blades and the two spacer structures, andare arranged to protrude the spacer structure at the structural partthereof.

The inner member 210 includes an outer sleeve 214 for connecting theblade assembly 200 to a blade driving shaft (not shown) of the machine1. The outer sleeve 214 includes a central bolt 215 for securing to theblade driving shaft. The inner member 210 also includes a circularflange 216 that projects transversal from the first blade 201 andsurrounds the sleeve 214, and forming a circular recess 217 between thesleeve 214 and the flange 216. The free end of the flange 216 has aninwardly extending brim 218 that partly is covering the circular recess217. At the bottom of the recess 217 adjacent to the inner side walls ofthe flange 216 there are provided a plurality of third bores 219, onefor each first bores 208, for connecting to the first bores 208 of thefirst blade 201.

When connected to the blade driving shaft (not shown) a spraying nozzle(not shown) is arranged to mate the circular recess 217. Duringoperation, fluid is sprayed towards the circular recess 217. The inwardbrim 218 helps forming a channel as the centripetal forces urges thefluid to flow radially, which urges the fluid to fill the first andsecond compartments 206, 207 via the connecting bores 208, 209, 219. Dueto the high rotation of the blade assembly 200 and tolerances betweenthe blades 201, 202, 203 and the spacer structures 204, 205, fluid willslowly exit the compartments 206, 207 at the side walls of thecompartments 206, 207 facing the periphery, i.e. the third side walls206 b, 207 b. The fluid filled compartments 206, 207 and the slow flowthere from will efficiently cool the blades 201, 202, 203 and providemoisture to the dust reducing dusting problems.

To increase flow of fluid from the compartments, apertures may be formedin the side wall/s facing the periphery.

Even though the preferred form for the compartments is the triangularshape described above, it would be possible to have other shapes.Furthermore some or all of the compartments could be interconnected.

When using the term central portion 201 c, 202 c, 203 c, the extensionof it should be interpreted as the largest area covered by the inner andouter members 210, 211. FIGS. 15 and 16 a show a blade arrangement 300according to a second embodiment. The embodiment of FIGS. 15 and 16differs from that of FIGS. 11-14 in that the spacer structures aresomewhat different and in that the blades includes air vents. Similarparts have been given the same numbers but in the 3-hundreds. Referencewill also be drawn to FIGS. 11-14 when explaining the embodiment ofFIGS. 15 and 16.

The blade assembly 300 includes an inner first blade 301 andintermediate second blade 302 and an outer third blade 303. The bladeassembly is clamped together at the central portion of the bladesbetween an inner member 210 and an outer member 211 which have the sameconfiguration as the one shown in FIG. 13 and will hence not be furtherdescribed.

The inner first blade 301 differs from the first blade 201 of FIG. 11-14in that it has a further plurality of forth bores providing a pluralityof first air vents 321 to the first compartments 306, one first air ventfor each first compartment. The intermediate second blade 302 differsfrom blade 202 of FIG. 11-14 in that it further has a plurality of fifthbores providing a plurality of second air vents 322 that connects thefirst compartments 306 to the second compartments 307, one second airvent for each pair of first and second compartments. The outer thirdblade 303 differs from the third blade 203 of FIG. 11-14 in that itfurther has a plurality of sixth bores providing a plurality of thirdair vents 323 to the second compartments 307, one second air vent foreach second compartment, and a plurality of seventh bores 320, whichhere only serves the purpose of making the first and third blade 301,303 interchangeable, since the outer member 211 seals against theseventh bores 320. However, the outer member 211 could also be replacedby a flange member with connecting similar to the inner member 210,thereby enabling fluid supply from both sides. Naturally, a bladewithout the seventh bores 320 could replace the third blade 303.

The air vents 321-323 are preferably located at a radius larger than theradius of the first and second inlets 308, 309; more particularly theair vents 321-323 shown here are located just outside the inner andouter member 210, 211.

Both spacer structures 304, 305 have the same shape and includes acircular central hub 304 a, 305 a having holes for the central bolt 215and for the securing bolts 212 and a plurality of radial extendingsupports 304 b, 305 b forming a plurality of compartments 306, 307extending from the central portions of the blades 301-303 towards theworking portions of the blades. The supports 304 b, 305 b are wider attheir peripheral ends to improve the strength of the blade assembly. Thesupports 304 b, 305 b also have hollows 324, 325 which are mainly forreducing the weight of the spacer structure 304, 305.

As can be seen in the figures the compartments 306, 307 are open endedtowards the periphery of the blades 301-303 forming a plurality ofpassages for air and water. This increases the air and water flowthrough the compartments. In FIG. 16 a it can be seen that thecompartments 306 first becomes wider with increasing radius until itreaches approximately half the radius of the blade 301 and thereafterthey become narrower towards the working portion 301 a. The fluid flowduring operation is preferably in the range of 1-10 liter/minute.

When the blade assembly 300 is rotating the spacer structure 304, 305and the formed compartments 306, 307 provides suction from the centretowards the periphery of the blade assembly. I.e. it operates similar toa centrifugal fan with radial fan blades. Therefore air and water willbe transported from the centre and out at the periphery, efficientlycooling the blades. Of course instead the arrangement could be fortransporting only air or only fluid or different combinations as furtherdescribed below.

FIG. 16 b differs from FIG. 16 a only in that the blade 301 has at leastone radial extending slots 326, extending from a central 301 c or innerportion, preferably within a third of the maximum radius, of the blade301 towards the working portion 301 a. The slot/s 326 extendsessentially straight. Preferably the slots 326 are arranged in pairswhere the slots in a pair extending in opposite radial directions.Furthermore the slot/s 326 is arranged to extend within thecompartment/s or passage 306 of the blade. Preferably every secondcompartment or passage having a slot 326 extending along within thecompartment 306. Preferably the other blades 302, 303 of the bladeassembly 300 also have such slots extending parallel to the slot/s 326.However the radial extending slots of two adjacent blades may also bedisplaced such that a slot of a first blade extends parallel to aposition between two slots of a second adjacent blade. Furthermore, itmay also be the case that only the outermost blades 301, 303 have suchradial extending slots 326 or only the central blade 302. One purpose ofthe slots 326 is to minimize stress to heat expansion by allowing theblades, when heated, to expand in the void provided by the slots 326.Another advantage with the slots 326 is to increase bending flexibility.The bending flexibility is in particular enhanced when the slots 326 ofdifferent blades are positioned parallel to each other and when theslots 326 are arranged in pairs extending radial from an inner orcentral portion of the blade in opposite directions. Of course suchslots 326 can be provided to all blades of the blade assembliesexemplified in the present application.

Even though the air vents 321-323 has been shown to be on a radiusoutside the inner and outer member 210, 211, they could be made withinthe radius of the inner and outer member 210, 211, in particular if thecooling fluid is supplied through the axial center as briefly describedabove.

Furthermore the blade assembly 300 could be made without inlets 308, 309for cooling fluid and only rely on air cooling through air vents. Thenthe inner and outer member 210, 211 could be simplified, by removing theconfigurations relating to the fluid supply. The inner and outer member210, 211 could have a smaller diameter and the air vents 321-323 couldbe moved closer to the centre if desired. Of course instead of reducingthe diameter the inner and outer member 210, 211 could be made to havebores mating the air vents 321, 323 of the first and third blade 301,303.

Furthermore, the air vents 321, 323 of the first or the third bladecould be omitted so that cooling air is only sucked from one side. E.g.water could be supplied on one side and air on the opposite side, orwater and air could be supplied from the same side of the bladeassembly.

Furthermore, every second air vent 321, 323 of the first and the thirdblade could be omitted, in such manner that each every pair ofcompartments 306, 307 are reached by either an air vent of the firstblade or an air vent of the third blade.

Furthermore the interconnecting second air vents 322 could be omittedwhen having air vents on both outer sides of the blade assembly 300.

Furthermore the air vents in the first or the third blade could haveconical shape, either with the cone tip pointing towards the compartmentor the opposite.

Preferably the air vents have a larger area than that of the inlets forfluid, more preferably the area is more than 50% larger. Preferably, ofa blade in the range of 500-1200 mm, the diameter of the air vent is inthe range of 5-30 mm, more preferably 10-25 mm. Preferably, the diameterof the inlet for fluid, of a blade in the range of 500-1200 mm, is inthe range of 5-20 mm, more preferably 7-15 mm.

Even though the number of blades 201-203; 301-303 have been described asthree, it would be possible to use only two blades and with one spacerstructure in between. Furthermore it could be possible to use even moreblades, adding one spacer structure for each added blade.

Even though we have described a blade assembly 200; 300 where the fluidis supplied outside the axial centre and from the machine side, it wouldbe possible to supply fluid through the axial center. For instance byusing a hollow drive shaft and having openings in the drive shaft to thecompartments in the blade assembly. Alternatively fluid may be suppliedat the opposite side to where the drive shaft connects. In such case, arecess in the outer member with radial openings to the compartments maybe provided.

One or both of the axial walls of the compartments 206, 207; 306, 307could be provided by the spacer structure 204, 205; 304, 305. In thecase of one axial wall provided by the spacer structure; instead ofholes, machined recesses in the structure could be provided. In the caseof two axial walls provided by the spacer structure; the spacerstructure could include two parts both having machined recesses that aremounted facing each other.

Besides cooling the blades by supplying fluid to the compartments 206,207; 306, 307 through the bores 219 of the inner member 210 and suckingair through the first and third air vents 321, 323, fluid can be sprayedto the outer side/s of the first and/or third blade. When using airvents, the air vents may then suck both air and fluid that is sprayed onthe outer side/s of the first and/or third blade

The compartments 206, 207; 306, 307 could be made to start outside thecentral portions, by having interconnecting channels from the centralportions. Further a compartment could be arranged as a volume enclosedsolely or partly within the spacer structure itself.

FIG. 17 shows a third embodiment of the spacer structure. Here, thesupports 604 b, which extends from the central hub 604 a, are curved,and hence forming curved passages 606 between the blades. Thus thecurved supports functions similar as backward or forward curved fanblades of a centrifugal fan.

In FIG. 18 a forth embodiment of the spacer structure is shown. Here,spacer structure is made up by several separate supports, a central hub704 a provides support for the clamping by the inner and outer member210, 211, and a plurality of blade shaped supports 704 b has the purposeof providing a suction when the blade assembly rotates, sucking air andwater from the central part of the blade assembly out through theperiphery. The blade shaped supports 704 b works as fan blades in acentrifugal fan and could e.g. be made radial, backward curved, orforward curved.

In FIG. 19 the two outer blades 801 and 803 are ring blades whereas theintermediate blade 802 is a full blade. Here the central portion 802 cof the intermediate blade 802 provides the blade assembly centralportion and a blade support structure 802 b extending between theworking portion 802 a of the intermediate blade 802 and the bladecentral portion 802 c provides the blade assembly support structure. Theblade assembly central portion 802 c for being operated on by a devicefor driving the blades. The blades are spaced apart by a plurality ofspacer structures 804, 805 forming at least one passage 806, 807 betweenthe blades extending essentially radially towards the working portions801 a, 802 a, 803 a. The passages 806, 807 covering a significant partof the periphery at a radius of the spacer structures. The central voids808, 809 within the inner rims of the outer ring blades provide inletsfor air and/or liquid to the passages 806, 807.

In FIG. 20-21 all blades 901, 902 and 903 are ring blades. The bladesare spaced apart by a two spacer structures 904, 905 extending from theaxial center of the blade assembly 900 towards the working portion ofthe blade assembly 900. In the center within the intermediate ring blade902 a central support 902 c is provided. The central portions 904 c, 905c of the two spacer structures 904, 905 and the central support 902 ctogether provides the blade assembly central portion for being operatedon by a device for driving the blades. The body of the two spacerstructures 904, 905 provides the blade assembly support structure. Thetwo spacer structures 904, 905 have a plurality of radial extendingprotrusions 910, 911 that extends from a radius shorter than the innerrim of the ring blades 901-903. The voids 912, 913 between the radialextending protrusions 910, 911 forming at least one passage 906, 907between the blades extending essentially radial towards the workingportions 901 a, 902 a, 903 a. The passages 906, 907 covering asignificant part of the periphery at a radius of the radial extendingprotrusions 910, 911. The central voids 908, 909 within the inner rimsof the outer ring blades 901, 903 provide inlets for air and/or liquidto the passages 906, 907.

Also the ring blades 801, 802, 803; 901, 902, 903 carrier blades andcarrier saw blades 1000 and spacer structures 904, 905 may have aplurality of essentially radial extending slots as described in relationto the blade 301 of FIG. 16 b. For the ring blades 801, 802, 803; 901,902, 903 the slots extends from the inner rims of the blades or a radiussomewhat further out, and towards the working portion of the blades.Preferably the slots are arranged in pairs where the slots in a pairextending in opposite radial directions. Similarly the slots here arearranged to extend within a passage 806, 807, 906, 907 of the blade,preferably every second passage having a slot extending along within thepassage.

In the previous shown blades each blade is a diamond saw blade havingone row of cutting segments separated by notches around the rim of theblade.

In FIG. 22 a first sectional saw blade is made up of a first row ofprimary cutting segments 1004 fastened to a carrier saw blade 1000having a first row of first cutting segments 1001 separated by notches1002 around the rim of the blade 1000. A second sectional saw blade ismade up of a second row of secondary cutting segments 1003 fastened tothe carrier blade or the carrier saw blade 1000. The primary cuttingsegments 1004 are individually secured to one side of the carrier sawblade 1000, and the secondary cutting segments 1004 are individuallysecured to the other side of the carrier saw blade 1000. Preferablypassages for air and/or liquid are arranged in between neighboringcutting segments 1004, 1003 or below the segments. The cuttings segments1003, 1004 of the sectional saw blades are detachably mounted to thecarrier saw blade 1000, so that they can be replaced when worn out.Instead of having the carrier saw blade 1000 it would be possible tohave carrier blade without cutting segments around its rim. Thereby allsegments can easily be replaced when worn out. As shown in FIG. 23 theprimary 1004 and the secondary 1003 cutting segments are secured to thecarrier blade 1000 in pairs, one pair consisting of a primary and asecondary cutting segment that are laterally aligned. The primarycutting segments 1004, and consequently the secondary cutting segments1003, are placed so that they overlap the notches 1002 of the carriersaw blade 1000.

By having additional sectional saw blades it may be possible to reducethe number of required full blades or ring blades of the blade assemblywhile keeping the same cutting width/capacity. It may even be possibleto use only one carrier saw blade 1000, or using only a carrier bladeholding two or three sectional saw blades. I.e. a single carrier bladehaving two or three rows of cutting segments may substitute a bladeassembly of the three blades each having single rows of cuttingssegments. Of course one or two additional rows of cutting segments canbe used for one, two or three blades, etc of a blade assembly toincrease its performance. For instance the outer blades can each be madehaving one or two additional rows of cutting segments in combinationwith an intermediate blade having a single row, or vice versa the innerblade one or two additional rows of cutting segments while the outerblades each have a single row of cuttings segments.

In FIG. 24 a laying and consolidation means 60 is shown. Here the layingand consolidation means 60 includes a plow structure 61 and a layingmeans 62 that are connected via a hinge 63 between a rear end 68 of theplow structure 61 and a front end 67 of the laying means 62. A plowfront end 66 is preferably concave and following the curvature of theblade arrangement 2 which in front of the plow structure 61 whenexcavating a trench 5. Preferably the front part of the plow structure61 is solid. The side walls of the plow structure 61 and a laying means62 prevents the trench walls from partly or completely collapsing beforethe at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire is fed into thetrench 5. The laying means 62 includes one or more feeding ducts 14 thateach has a inlet at an upper side 64 of the laying means 62 forreceiving the flexible casing, cable or wire and a outlet at a lowerrear end 65 of the laying means 62 for feeding the cable or wire to thetrench 5. Each feeding duct 14 can be arranged to guide one or moreflexible casings or tubes, wires, or cables, preferably one flexiblecasing or tube. Thus the at least one feeding duct 14 can be one, e.g.feeding a larger flexible casing with room for multiple cables, orseveral tubes, wires or cables on top of each other. Preferably thefeeding duct 14 is at least two, preferably at least four. One of theside walls of the laying means 62 preferably has a detachable cover (notshown). In FIG. 24 the laying means 62 are shown with the cover removedexposing the feedings ducts 14.

The hinge 63 between the plow structure 61 and the laying means 62reduces the risk that the consolidation and laying means 60 gets stuckin a curved trench.

In one embodiment the consolidation and laying means 60 have the samethickness or is no more than 1 mm thinner than the blade arrangement 2.The advantage with this embodiment is that both the blade arrangement 2and the consolidation and laying means 3 can be made as thin aspossible, i.e. as thin as the size of the flexible casing or tube, cableor wire allows.

Alternatively, the consolidation and laying means 60 is made thinnerthan the blade arrangement 2, preferably at least 1 mm thinner, morepreferably at least 2 mm thinner, most preferably at least 5 mm thinner,even more preferred 10 mm thinner. One advantage of having theconsolidation and laying means 60 thinner than the blade arrangement 2,is that if the trench 5 is not to be cut in a straight line but ratherallowing for a curvature, the lesser thickness of the consolidation andlaying means 60 reduces the risk for it to get stuck in the trench 5,i.e. the more thinner the consolidation and laying means 3 is inrelation to the blade arrangement 2, the steeper curves can be done whenmaking the trench 5. Of course this is emphasized by the hinge.

Furthermore the laying means 62 may be made thinner than the plowstructure 61, thereby further reducing the risk of the consolidation andlaying means 60 to get stuck in the trench 5.

The lower ends or bottoms 69, 70 of the plow structure 61 and the layingmeans 62 are structured such that the consolidation and laying means 60continuously or sequentially decreases its draught in the trench indirection from the front end 66 of the plow structure to the rear side65 of the laying means. As seen in FIG. 24 the lowest point at the rearend 65 of the laying means 62, has Δz larger clearance to a horizontalline than the front tip of the plow structure 61.

In FIG. 25 a variant of the hinged consolidation and laying means 60 isshown. Here the hinge 63 between the plow structure 61 and the layingmeans 63 is tilted with an angle α as compared to the example of FIG. 24where the hinge 63 is essentially vertical. In the present applicationthe angle α is defined as positive when the hinge 63 is tilted such thata lower portion of the hinge is in front of an upper portion of thehinge.

Preferably, the hinge 63 is arranged with an angle α to the vertical inthe range of −60° to 60°. For an essentially vertical setup the hinge isin the range of −15° to 15°, preferably in the range of −10° to 10°, andmost preferably −5° to 5°. For a tilted version the hinge 63 ispreferably tilted such that a lower portion of the hinge is in front ofan upper portion of the hinge. Thus preferably, the angle α to thevertical in the range of 15° to 60°, preferably 20° to 50° and mostpreferably 35° to 50°. This allows for a compact plow structure 61.

FIGS. 26A and 26B shows a schematic layout of a feeder device 24 forfeeding at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire 23 down intoat least one feeding ducts 14 of the consolidation and laying means 3,60. The feeder device 24 is arranged on the machine 1 above the inlet tothe feeding ducts 14. In FIG. 26 a the feeder device 24 is seen from alateral side of the machine and in FIG. 26B the feeder device 24 is seenas if standing in front or rear of the machine 1. In this embodiment theat least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire 23 are arranged inone single longitudinal row above the feeding ducts 14 and are pressedbetween two rolls 25 a, 25 b, of which at least one and preferably bothare driven. Thereby the flexible casing or tube, cable or wire 23 can beurged downwards and be guided by the feeding ducts 14 into the trench 5.

FIG. 26 c shows another embodiment of the feeder device 24 seen as ifstanding in front or rear of the machine 1. Here the at least oneflexible casing or tube, cable or wire 23 are arranged in twolongitudinal rows above the feeding ducts 14 that are pressed betweentwo pairs of rolls 29 a, 26 a; 26 b, 29 b. At least two of the rolls aredriven; here the two inner rolls 26 a, 26 b are driven preferably byhaving a gear connection between them.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection withthe preferred embodiments thereof it will be understood that manymodifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are withinthe intended broad scope of the following claims. From the foregoing, itcan be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least one of thestated objectives.

For instance, the different embodiments of blade assemblies described inthe present application could be used in other machines than the onedescribed in the present application using circular cutting blades. Forinstance, the blade assemblies could be used in road saws and in handheld power cutters. Of course, in hand held power cutters, the bladediameter and other size factors can be smaller than the ranges mentionedabove.

The fluid used to cool the blades is preferably water.

1.-59. (canceled)
 60. A laying machine for laying at least one flexiblecasing or tube, cable or wire comprising: a blade arrangement for makinga trench in the ground, and a consolidation and laying means beingarranged behind the blade arrangement, for clearing and safeguarding thetrench from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing ortube, cable or wire into the trench, and having a plow front endfollowing the blade arrangement, and having at least one feeding ductthat has an inlet at an upper side thereof for receiving a flexiblecasing or tube, cable, or wire and an outlet at a rear and/or bottomside thereof for feeding the flexible casing or tube, cable, or wire tothe trench, wherein the laying machine has at least four wheels, andhaving one wheel pair at a first side of the machine and the other wheelpair at a second and opposite side of the machine, and the bladearrangement, the disc guard, and the consolidation and laying means aremounted at a first or second side of the machine, i.e. transversallyoutside of the wheels, and at least one wheel is a drive wheel and atleast one wheel is a steering wheel, and at least two of the wheels areconnected to each other by at least one bogie arm running in anessentially longitudinal direction of the laying machine to form alongitudinal bogie.
 61. A laying machine according to claim 60, whereinat least one and preferably two longitudinal bogie/s is/are arranged ata side transversally distant from the blade arrangement, each boogiehaving at least two wheels.
 62. A laying machine according to claim 60,wherein a longitudinal bogie is arranged in a position close to theblade arrangement.
 63. A laying machine according to claim 60, and meansfor adjusting the ground clearance on at least one side of the machine,preferably both sides of the machine, so that the machine can be drivenwith one wheel pair on a first ground level and the opposite at a higheror lower second ground level, while still keeping the machine leveled.64. A laying machine according to claim 63, wherein the means foradjusting the ground clearance on at least one side of the machine is ascissor mechanism.
 65. A laying machine for laying at least one flexiblecasing or tube, cable or wire comprising: a blade arrangement for makinga trench in the ground, and a consolidation and laying means beingarranged behind the blade arrangement, for clearing and safeguarding thetrench from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing ortube, cable or wire into the trench, and having a plow front endfollowing the blade arrangement, and having at least one feeding ductthat has a inlet at an upper side thereof for receiving a flexiblecasing or tube, cable, or wire and an outlet at a rear and/or bottomside thereof for feeding the flexible casing or tube, cable, or wire tothe trench, wherein at least two flexible casings or tubes, cables orwires are arranged in two longitudinal rows above the feeding ducts andare pressed between at least four rolls, of which at least two andpreferably at least three or four are driven.
 66. A laying machineaccording to claim 65, wherein the two inner rolls are driven by havinga gear connection between them.
 67. A laying machine according to claim65, wherein the two outer rolls are driven by having a gear connectionbetween them and respectively rollers.
 68. A blade assembly for workingon a work surface/area/structure, the blade assembly including at leasttwo blades, a first blade, a second blade, and a possible third, forth,etc blade, that are axially aligned, each blade having a working portionat the periphery of the blade, and the working portions of twoneighboring blades are spaced apart in an assembly axial direction, andthe blade assembly further including a blade assembly central portionaround the axial center of the blades for being operated on by a devicefor driving the blades, a blade assembly support structure extendingbetween the working portion of the blades and the blade assembly centralportion; the blades are spaced apart by a spacer structure/s, saidspacer structure/s forming at least one compartment or passage betweenthe blades extending essentially radial towards the working portion, andat least at one radius of the spacer structure/s the at least onecompartment or passage covering a significant part of the periphery atthat radius of the spacer structure/s, said compartment/s having atleast one inlet, for air and/or liquid, being located between theworking portion and the axial center of the blades, and thecompartment/s or passage/s have at least one air vent alone or incombination with at least one fluid inlet within a radius not exceedingthe first fractional half, and preferably within the first fractionalthird of the blade radius, said air vent/s for sucking air into thecompartments.
 69. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein theblade assembly central portion is provided by a central portion of eachblade and wherein the blade assembly support structure is provided by ablade support structure extending between the working portion and thecentral portion of each blade.
 70. A blade assembly according to claim68, wherein the at least one compartment or passage is in contact withthe central portion and the at least one inlet is at or close to thecentral portion.
 71. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein theblade assembly includes three blades, which are each are spaced apart aspacer structure/s, one between the first and second blade and the otherbetween the second and third blade, and wherein the compartment/sincludes at least one first compartment between the first and the secondblade and at least one second compartment between the second and thethird blade.
 72. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein atleast one of the inlet/s, a first inlet/s, is provided in the firstblade.
 73. A blade assembly according to claim 72, wherein at least oneof the inlets/s, a second inlet/s is provided in the second bladeconnecting first compartment/s to opposite located second compartment/s.74. A blade assembly according to claim 73, wherein the first and thesecond inlet/s are aligned so that each first inlet is facing acorresponding second inlet.
 75. A blade assembly according to claim 68,wherein the compartment/s or passage/s have at least one air ventlocated on each axial side of the blade assembly for sucking air fromboth axial sides of the assembly.
 76. A blade assembly according toclaim 68, wherein the air vent/s is located at a radius further awayfrom the axial center of the blades than the fluid inlet/s.
 77. A bladeassembly according to claim 76, wherein at least one of the air vent/s,a first air vent/s, is provided in the first blade, for sucking air fromoutside the blade assembly to the compartment/s or passage/s.
 78. Ablade assembly according to claim 77, wherein at least one of the airvents/s, a second air vent/s, is provided in the second blade connectingat least one first compartment to at least one opposite located secondcompartment.
 79. A blade assembly according to claim 77, wherein atleast one of the air vent/s, a third air vent/s, is provided in thethird blade, for sucking air from outside the blade assembly to thecompartment/s.
 80. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein theside walls of the compartment/s or passage/s are defined by the spacerstructure.
 81. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein at leastone axial wall of the compartment/s or passage/s is a neighboring blade,preferably both axial walls are neighboring blades.
 82. A blade assemblyaccording to claim 68, wherein said significant part is at least 30%,preferably at least 50%, more preferably at least 70% of the peripheryat that radius.
 83. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein thewidth of the compartment/s or passage/s is constant or increasing in thedirection from the central portion to the working portion.
 84. A bladeassembly according to claim 68, wherein each compartment/s or passage/shas two side walls that both extends radially from a predetermineddistance from the axial center of the blades.
 85. A blade assemblyaccording to claim 84, wherein the compartment/s has a third side wallextending between the two side walls defining the outer edge of thecompartment, said third side wall being at a distance closer to theperiphery of the blades than to the center of the blades.
 86. A bladeassembly according to claim 85, wherein the third side wall has at leastone aperture.
 87. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein thecompartment/s or passage/s are open ended towards the rim of the bladeassembly.
 88. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein the bladeassembly is clamped at the central portion of the blades between aninner member and an outer member, said inner member includes a sleevefor connecting the blade assembly to a blade driving shaft, the innermember also includes a transversally projecting flange surrounding thesleeve, and forming a circular recess between the sleeve and the flange,the free end of the flange have an inward projecting brim partlycovering the circular recess, and wherein at the bottom of the recessand adjacent to the flange there are provided at least one channel forconnecting to the first inlet/s of the first blade, so that a fluid canbe sprayed from a nozzle in the laying machine into the circular recessto move on to the compartment/s or passage/s.
 89. A blade assemblyaccording to claim 68, wherein the compartment/s between two blades area plurality of compartments that are on at least one radiusequidistantly distributed around the blade surface.
 90. A blade assemblyaccording to claim 68, wherein each compartment at least one air ventfor sucking air and preferably at least one inlet for receiving coolingfluid.
 91. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein said bladeassembly is used as a saw blade of a power cutter, wall saw, floor saw,road saw or a fiber laying machine.
 92. A blade assembly according toclaim 68, wherein at least one of the blades includes a plurality ofessentially radial extending slots that are preferably straight.
 93. Ablade assembly according to claim 92, wherein the slots extend from acentral or inner portion of the blade/s towards the working portion ofthe blade/s, preferably the slots are arranged in pairs where the slotsin a pair extending in opposite radial directions.
 94. A blade assemblyaccording to claim 93, wherein a slot is arranged to extend within acompartment or passage of the blade assembly, preferably every secondcompartment or passage having a slot extending along within thecompartment.
 95. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein a firstsectional saw blade is made up of a first row of primary cuttingsegments fastened to a carrier blade or a carrier saw blade having afirst row of first cutting segments separated by notches around the rimof the blade.
 96. A blade assembly according to claim 95, wherein asecond sectional saw blade is made up of a second row of secondarycutting segments fastened to the carrier blade or the carrier saw blade,said primary cutting segments being individually secured to one side ofthe carrier blade or carrier saw blade, and said secondary cuttingsegments being individually secured to the other side of the carrierblade or carrier saw blade, and preferably inlet/s for air and/or liquidis arranged in between neighboring cutting segments or below segments.97. A blade assembly according to claim 96, wherein the primary and thesecondary cutting segments are secured to the blade in pairs, one pairconsisting of a primary and a secondary cutting segment that arelaterally aligned.
 98. A blade assembly according to claim 96, whereinthe secondary cutting segments are placed so that they overlap thenotches of the carrier saw blade.
 99. A blade assembly according toclaim 95, wherein the cuttings segments of the sectional saw blades aredetachably mounted to the blade, so that they can be replaced when wornout.
 100. A blade assembly according to claim 68, wherein at least oneof the blades is a ring blade, having an inlet inside of its inner rim,and preferably both outermost blades are ring blades.
 101. A bladeassembly according to claim 100, wherein the at least one ring blade isat least three ring blades.
 102. A blade assembly for working on a worksurface/area/structure, the blade assembly including at least twoblades, a first blade, a second blade, and a possible a third, forthetc. blade, that are axially aligned, each blade having a workingportion at the periphery of the blade and a central portion around theaxial center of the blade for being operated on by a device for drivingthe blade assembly, a blade support structure extending between theworking portion and the central portion characterized in that the bladesare spaced apart by a spacer structure/s, including a central hub thatprovides support at the central portion, and a plurality of fan bladeshaped supports that provides support at the blade support structure andfunctions as fan blades, said blade assembly having at least one airvent of at least both outermost blades, said air vent being within thefirst fractional half, and preferably within the first fractional thirdof the blade radius.
 103. A blade assembly according to claim 102,wherein at least one fluid inlet is provided at the central portion.104. A blade assembly according to any of claim 103, wherein at leastone of the blades includes a plurality of essentially radial extendingslots that are preferably straight.